A/HRC/28/83 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 9 January 2015 English Original: French Human Rights Council Twenty-eighth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali, Suliman Baldo Summary In this report, which covers the period from 1 May to 29 December 2014, the Independent Expert gives an account of his third visit to Mali, from 7 to 17 October 2014. He notes with concern that the progress observed during his second mission, in February 2014, in terms of strengthening State authority, deploying the administration in the north of the country and combating impunity has been called into question following the fighting that broke out in Kidal from 16 to 21 May 2014. These events which rekindled the power struggle between the Government and rebel groups have had major political, security and humanitarian repercussions in the country as well as serious consequences for the human rights situation there. Armed movements, including terrorist groups, are gradually regaining control of the north of the country and, for the first time, members of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) are being targeted by the jihadi groups. This extremely worrying situation is keeping humanitarian actors away from people living in northern Mali who are thus deprived of access to basic social services. The Independent Expert notes the contrast, since his last report, between the marked decrease in cases of violations of the right to life attributable to the Malian armed forces and the significant increase in violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by the different armed groups in northern Mali. The rape of minors by certain members of the Malian armed forces is the main source of concern. Armed and extremist groups present in the north of Mali continue to be involved in violations of human rights: violations of the right to life, abductions, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, unlawful detention, the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, asymmetrical attacks and looting. GE.15-00252 (E) 050215 060215 